Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems recommended for Gen Z

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

It’s a song that brilliantly captures the joys and anxieties of youth.

Beloved as a graduation-season staple, it was written specifically for NHK’s 2018 special program “RADWIMPS 18 Festival.” Characterized by RADWIMPS’ distinctive musicality and profound lyrics, it resonates deeply with many listeners.

In January 2024, after five years, it was finally released on CD.

Skillfully portraying emotions unique to adolescence—friendship, growth, and worries about the future—it’s a perfect track for Gen Z.

Its refreshing melody makes you want to hum along with friends at graduations and whenever you’re making memories.

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CreepHyp - “Bookmark” (MUSIC VIDEO)

A bittersweet song about youthful romance has arrived from CreepHyp.

Set to a driving rock sound, Sekai-kan Ozaki’s distinctive lyrical world unfolds.

In this work, the emotions of two people facing a breakup are delicately expressed through images like bookmarks and falling cherry blossoms, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in September 2018, the track drew attention as the campaign song for “FM802 × TSUTAYA ACCESS!” with participation from many artists.

It’s a song that offers empathy and comfort to members of Gen Z struggling with love and relationships.

cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Aloof [Official Music Video]

A song that captures the frustration of an ambiguous relationship and the ache of unrequited feelings.

The delicate emotions that sway with the other person’s attitude and the uncertain distance where neither can read the other’s heart are carefully woven with the distinctive word choices of Yojiro Noda.

Although it’s a track from the 2018 album ANTI ANTI GENERATION, the music video featuring Nana Komatsu and Fuju Kamio also created a big buzz.

In August 2020, it was chosen as the theme song for the ABEMA show Who Is the Wolf?, once again resonating with many listeners.

Unfolding at a relaxed tempo, this piece is a gentle companion for nights troubled by love or quiet moments of contemplation.

determinationSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Determination” MV

This is a powerful cheer song themed around life choices and moving forward, with SUPER BEAVER’s signature straightforward message and solid rock sound that really lifts your spirits.

Released digitally in November 2023, the track was also featured in a commercial for Morinaga’s “in Jelly Energy Glucose.” The lyrics, which assert that you are the one who decides your future, are sure to give courage to anyone worried about what lies ahead.

Its driving rock ensemble feels like a tailwind—a powerful rock tune that propels you forward.

It’s a moving song that resonates deeply and gives a push to people standing at life’s crossroads, such as students preparing for entrance exams.

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back number – Watagashi (full)

The three-piece rock band back number captivates fans with poignant lyrics that vividly paint scenes and an emotional vocal style.

Their melodies brim with a summery, humid melancholy that leaves a strong impression.

The timidity that keeps one from taking a first step and the tendency to spin out fantasies are feelings many men, in particular, will relate to.

Released in July 2012, this song was chosen as the opening theme for the music show COUNT DOWN TV and reached No.

14 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Actress Mizuki Yamamoto appears on both the cover and in the music video.

It’s a perfect number for a summer moment—one whose sentimental story inevitably mirrors your own feelings.

Youth SicknessFuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Seishun Sick (Official Video)

Fujii Kaze’s song delicately depicts the fragility and inner struggles of youth.

The lyrics reflect a longing for the ephemeral and the complex feelings about the end of one’s adolescence.

It was first performed at his solo concert at Nippon Budokan on October 29, 2020, and released the following day, October 30, as a digital-only single.

Classified as Funk/Soul and J-POP, the song celebrates the importance of embracing the fleeting nature of youth.

By sensitively portraying the emotions of young people, this work offers a warm message to those who look back on the past while living in the present.

Dear, boyHump Back

Hump Back – “Dear, Boy” Music Video

Hump Back is a three-piece girls’ band that plays message-driven rock, expressing everyday joys and sorrows with down-to-earth lyrics.

Their first single, released in June 2018 as their major-label debut, was featured as the ending theme of the TV music program “Buzz Rhythm 02.” The lyrics by Momoko Hayashi, said to be inspired by notes she left during her teenage years, serve as an anthem for young people who struggle and wrestle with their dreams and hopes.

The song’s message tells listeners that it’s okay to take the long way around, because there’s value in the journey itself—something many students who live their days earnestly will likely relate to.

With its straightforward rock ensemble, it’s also a powerful number well-suited for live stage performances.